EGDF PUBLISHES 2023 EUROPEAN GAMES INDUSTRY INSIGHTS DATA
Brussels, 12.08.2025 – The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 European Video Game Industry Insights Report. The report finds that the studios and talent numbers are growing, despite a difficult market situation, and Turkey is emerging as one of the leading game development hubs in Europe.
The 2023 European Video Game Industry Insights Report, developed in collaboration between the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGE), remains the only comprehensive report providing an overview of the state of the European game industry. Over the years, it has become an important source for monitoring the development of the dynamic European game development ecosystem.
For 2023, the Report compiles aggregated national data from 22 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
For the first time in years, we have data from Turkey for this report. Although the methodology is slightly different from other European countries, it is clear that Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, has emerged as an important talent hub. This reflects the positive impact of sustained government investment in the sector.
The difficult years have also impacted the European game industry trade associations, and part of them are no longer able to collect industry data annually. Unfortunately, for this reason, we are missing industry data from France and Poland, the two key game industry talent hubs in Europe. Thus, the aggregated EU-level data includes the latest available information from countries that have not collected 2023 data. Their complete data from 2023 will be reflected in the 2024 report.
The report consists of two main parts. The first part presents Europe-wide data for 2023 (total numbers, comparative data, etc.). The second part comprises country-specific information (2019-2023, depending on the available data for each specific country).
Undoubtedly, 2023 was a year marked by layoffs and studio closures. However, despite the challenges, the key metrics – growing numbers of game dev studios and employment – point us to the remarkable resilience and adaptability of the video game industry. Studio number in the EU grew from 5,300 in 2022 to 5,900 in 2023, and employment increased from 90,000 to 91,000. But the global downturn impacted the EU’s combined turnover – for the first time it decreased, thankfully just by over 1% and reached EUR 18.7 billion.
2023 Insights Report also introduces a new industry data segment. For the first time ever, we have gathered the list of the largest game development hubs in Europe. In the coming years, this data point will present a new opportunity to gauge the growth and changes in gamedev communities scattered across Europe.
The 2023 Video Games Industry Insights Report is now available for download HERE
About EGDF: The European Games Developer Federation e.f. (EGDF) unites national trade associations representing game developer studios based in 22 European countries: Austria (PGDA), Belgium (FLEGA, WALGA), Croatia (CGDA), Czechia (GDACZ), Estonia (Gamedev Estonia), Finland (Suomenpelinkehittäjät), France (SNJV), Germany (GAME), Italy (IIDEA), Lithuania (LGDA), Netherlands (DGA), Norway (VIRKE), Poland (PGA, IGP), Portugal (APVP), Romania (RGDA), Serbia (SGA), Slovakia (SGDA), Spain (DEV), Sweden (Spelplan‑ASGD), Switzerland (SGDA), Turkey (TOGED) and the United Kingdom (TIGA). For more information about the EGDF and its initiatives, please visit https://www.egdf.eu/.
Media Contact:
Jari-Pekka Kaleva, tel: +358 40 716 3640
Managing Director, European Games Developer Federation (EGDF)
Email: jari-pekka.kaleva@egdf.eu